Joint for paper drier felts or aprons or the like



Dec. 24, 11935, .J. K. DIAMOND JOINT FOR PAPER DRIER FELTS OR APRONS OR THE LIKE Filed July 27, 1935 INVI NT OR. Jamw /f. flmmonc/ ATTORNEY 5 Patented Dec. 24, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOINT FOR PAPER DRIER FELTS OR APRONS OR THE LIKE.

Rapids, Mich.

Application July 27, 1935, Serial No. 33,432

11 Claims.

It is quite common experience that drier felts or aprons of paper driers first give way or break at the joints, the stock being injured and weakened by gases and vapors reaching the lacing through the joints.

The main objects of this invention are to provide a joint for a drier felt or apron or the like in which the joint is effectively sealed against the passage of steam and vapors and at the same time its flexibility is maintained.

Objects relating to details and economies of my invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary end elevation of a cylinder of a paper drier with a drier felt or apron embodying my invention in operative relation thereto.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective View of a paper drier felt or apron embodying my invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view corresponding to Fig. 2 showing a modified form or embodiment of my invention with a device for inserting and removing the joint sealing element.

Referring to the drawing, i represents a cylinder or drum of a paper drier and 2 the drying felt or apron, a Web of paper being indicated at 3. The adjacent or meeting ends i of the apron 2 are provided with joint flaps 5, these joint flaps being, in the embodiment illustrated, made up of multiple plies 6 and 1 arranged in superimposed relation and stapled to the apron by rows of staples 8 disposed transversely thereof. The plies are preferably of different widths to secure flexibility and at the same time have the desired strength. The ends of the apron are preferably arranged to project beyond the ends of the flaps.

The securing staples are arranged so that the inner ends of the flaps are free, the loop-like lacing hooks 9 being set in these free ends, the arms of the hooks terminating in prongs ill forming an effective attachment for the hooks to the flaps. A coupling or lacing pin It is di p through the interlapping bight ends of the hooks.

Flexible metal sealing strips H. are disposed between the joint flaps and the ends of the apron and are secured by the inner row of staples. These sealing strips project beyond the ends of the apron into overlapping relation W th each other and with the ends of the apron and the joint flaps. The sealing strips are flexible so that they do not interfere with the joint and can move upon each other as the apron is flexed around the drier cylinders or drums, at the same 5 time the joint is effectively sealed against the passage of steam or vapors. The strips may be of cop-per or other suitable material and it will be understood that I have not attempted to illustrate the strips and apron and flaps in relative 10 proportions.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 4, a single flexible sealing strip I3 is slipped longitudinally between the overlapping ends of the apron and the joint flaps to bridge and seal the joint. The strip is effectively held by the overlapping parts.

A tool M is shown in Fig. 4 suitable for introducing and removing the sealing strip I3.

My improved drier felts or aprons are entirely effective in preventing the passage of steam or vapors at the joints thereof and this results in a very substantial saving, or in other words, prevents loss arising from damage frequently occurring from the cause indicated.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in satisfactory embodiments thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe certain embodiments or adaptations as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A joint for the meeting ends of a drier felt or apron or the like comprising joint flaps secured in superimposed relation upon the meeting ends of the apron with the ends of the apron projecting slightly beyond the adjacent edges of the i0 flaps, the flap securing means comprising a row of staples disposed transversely of the apron in substantially spaced relation to the ends of the joint flaps, coacting loop-like lacing hooks, the arms of which terminate in prongs engaged in the free ends of said joint flaps with the bight ends of the lacing hooks in interlapping relation, 2. coupling pin for said lacing hooks, and flexible metal sealing strips disposed between said joint flaps and apron and secured by the said row of staples, the inner ends of said sealing strips projecting beyond the ends of the apron into overlapping relation with each other and with the ends of the apron and joint flaps.

2. A joint for the meeting ends of a drier felt or apron or the like comprising joint flaps secured in superimposed relation upon the meeting ends of the apron, the flap securing means comprising a row of staples disposed transversely of theapron in substantially spaced relation to the ends of thejoint flaps, coupling means for said joint flaps, and flexible metal sealing strips disposed between said joint flaps and apron and secured by the said row of staples, and inner ends of said sealing strips projecting beyond the ends of the apron into overlapping relation with each other and with the ends of the apron and joint flaps.

3. A joint for the meeting ends of a drier felt or apron or the like comprising joint flaps secured in superimposed relation upon the meeting ends of the apron with the ends of the apron projecting slightly beyond the adjacent edges of the flaps, coacting loop-like lacing hooks, the arms of which terminate in prongs engaged in the 'free ends of said joint flaps with the bight ends of the lacing hooks in interlapping relation, a coupling pin for said lacing hooks, and flexible metal sealing strips disposed between said joint flaps and apron and secured at their outer ends with the inner ends of said sealing strips in overlapping relation.

4. A joint for the meeting ends of a drier felt or apron or the like comprising joint flaps secured in superimposed relation upon the meeting ends of the apron withthe ends of the apron projecting slightly beyond the adjacent edges of the flaps, coupling means connecting said flaps,

and flexible metal sealing strips disposed between said joint flaps and apron and secured at their outer ends with the inner ends of said sealing strips in overlapping relation.

5. A joint for the meeting ends of a drier felt r apron or the like comprising joint flaps secured in superimposed relation upon the meeting ends of the apron with the ends of the apron projecting slightly beyond the adjacent edges of the flaps, coupling means connecting said flaps, and flexible metal sealing strips disposed between said joint flaps and apron and secured at their outer ends thereto with the inner ends of said sealing strips in overlapping relation with each other and with the ends of the apron and joint flaps.

6. A joint for the meeting ends of a drier felt 0r apron or the like comprising joint flaps secured in superimposed relation upon the meeting ends of the apron, the securing means being arranged so that the adjacent end portions of the flaps and of the apron are free from each other, a coupling means carried by the joint flaps,

and overlapping flexible metal sealing strips disposed between said apron and joint flaps with their inner ends in lapping relation to each other and to the apron and joint flaps, their outer ends being secured to both joint flaps and the apron.

7. A joint for the meeting ends of a drier felt or apron or the like comprising joint flaps se-' cured in superimposed relation upon the meeting ends of the apron, the securing means being arranged so that the adjacent end portions of the flaps and of the apron are free from each other, a coupling means carried by the joint flaps, and overlapping flexible metal sealing strips disposed between said apron and joint flaps with their inner ends in lapping relation.

8. A joint for the meeting ends of a drier felt or apron or the like comprising joint flaps secured in superimposed relation upon the meeting ends of the apron, a coupling means for the joint flaps, and overlapping flexible sealing strips disposed between said apron' and joint flats with their inner ends in lapping relation to each other and to the apron and joint flaps, their outer ends being secured to both joint flaps and the apron.

9. A joint for the meeting ends of a drier felt or apron or the like comprising joint flaps secured in superimposed relation upon the meeting ends of the apron, a coupling means for the joint flaps, and overlapping flexible sealing strips disposed between said apron and joint flaps with their inner ends in lapping relation.

10. A joint for the meeting ends of a drier felt or apron or the like comprising joint flaps secured in superimposed relation upon the meeting ends of the apron, the securing means being arranged so that the adjacent end portions of the flaps and of the apron are free from each other, a coupling means carried by the joint flaps, and a flexible joint sealing element disposed between the superimposed free ends of the apron and joint flaps and acting to close the joint against the passage of steam and vapors therc through.

11. A joint for the meeting ends of a drier felt 0r apron or the like comprising joint flaps secured in superimposed relation upon the meeting ends of the apron, a coupling means carried by the joint flaps, and a flexible joint sealing element disposed between the superimposed ends of the apronand joint flaps and acting to close the joint against the passage of steam and vapors therethrough.

JAMES vK. DIAMOND. 

